Classical Explorer

We need to hear more music by Amglo-Irish composer Ernest John (Smeed) Moeran (1894-1950). Arnold Bax referred to Moeran as “the last true Romantic”. His life was a toubled one: he was wounded in the […]

Elgar Variations on an Original Theme. Op. 36, ‘Enigma‘ (1888/9) Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36 (1877/8) Elgar and the Berliner Philarmoniker? Well, there is precedent of the orchestra in English music […]

As his Grande Messe des Morts (Requiem) in Pappano’s LSO performance proved conclusively (August 15), there are fewer if any better spaces to hold Berlioz’ monumental imagination.  From the religious to Goethe’s great work of […]

Øyvind Torvund Symphonic Poem No. 1, “Forest Morning” (2019, first Proms performance) Stravinsky Violin Concerto in D major (1933) Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet (1935/6), excerpts The first thing to notice here is the title, taken […]

Last week’s five sold-out performances of The Magic Flute at Arcola Theatre (25 – 29 August, 2026, within the framework of the annual Grimeborn Festival, July to September) have shown how much impact such productions can make, even at small […]

Volume Two of Hélène Mercier and Louis Lortie’s series of Debussy piano duets on Chandos launches with one of the most famous openings of all, that of the Prélude de l’après-midi d’une faune, after Mallarmé, […]

From Opera Rara: Sunday 4 October, 4pm, The Bridgewater Hall  aul Daniel, conductor | Chorus of English National Opera  On Sunday 4 October, Opera Rara launches its 56th season with the UK premiere of Offenbach’s Barkouf, a biting political satire in which a […]

This rather nice compilation of approachable, broadly “pastoral” English music released by SOMM is a delight. The music is the very definition of the disc’s subtitle, “British Light Classics”. Geoffrey Bush’s Rhapsody for clarinet and […]

Anyone who thinks Modernist music can’t be beautiful in and of itself should hear this. Hushed, caressing, Ian Wilson’s Voces amissae (Lost Voices) is a contemporary masterpiece. Lost Voices sets poetry by Serbian poet Dragina […]

Mahler: Symphony No. 2, ‘Resurrection’ Elizabeth Watts (soprano); Jennifer Johnston (mezzo); Brighton Festival Chorus; Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Mandle Cheung (conductor). Alexandra Palace Theatre, London, 21. 08.2026 Interviewing Mandle Cheung revealed a tech entrepreneur housing […]